"We shall finalize and iron those things out, Lord Benjamin." Lucius easily supplied. "In fact, I have every reason to believe that Baron Hugh might see it as a good thing for you to gain experience outside of Etara's Cross if you are willing to step away from your home."
"O-oh. Yes, now that I think about it… that does make certain sense. It didn't occur to me until you mentioned it." Benjamin chuckled.
'Living in Inanis City? Compared to the hustle and bustle of Etara's Cross constant traffic and busyness, the life here in Inanis City will be much quieter and peaceful. I can get a small house here? Ah, I'm not sure if I can afford the housing or whether or not Father will provide…'
"Let me talk with Baron Hugh if you're willing. I am sure that we can work something out. In fact, since I am the one who is offering you to stay here, it makes much more sense to offer incentives like housing, transportation and other amenities."
"W-what?" Benjamin stared at Lord Asher in shock.
"Indeed."
"But isn't that too much, Lord Asher? You're already offering to hire me so I could start a business, so for you to offer… er, I am most grateful for it." Benjamin caught himself and bowed awkwardly.
'It's rude to reject a gift and here I am, already doing such a thing. This is an opportunity that I wouldn't get anywhere and to speak so negatively about it is something that could displease Lord Asher. Father would have already scolded me if I was here.'
Lucius noticed the hesitation in the younger man's stance and decided to fix the issue himself.
'While not exactly a combat person, it is actually good to pass on certain administrative work to someone else so I can do other more important things.' Lucius thought. 'Not to mention, I have found myself curious about what his Gift might become at an Epic Rank.'
Gift Name: Book Archiver
Description: It is a memory related gift that allows a user to read and memorize books better than others.
Rank: Rare
eaglesnov?1,сoМ Type: Mental
Evolution: Possible
Evolution Requirements: 2x Glass Eye beast rune crystals + 100 Aether Crystals
Benjamin found himself waiting once again for Lord Asher's reply. The two of them were close in age, but the gap and difference in maturity and skills were clearly obvious to him.
"You need to be more confident with yourself, Lord Benjamin." Lucius said. "When opportunity does strike, do not find yourself diminishing your worth and wondering whether you deserve it or not. One way or another, it has come to your hands and it is up to you to decide whether or not you'll use it. The choice is entirely yours."
"Haha," Benjamin chuckled weakly, but nodded. "Thank you, Lord Asher. It's just… it's easy to read books. They're safe, familiar and they won't bite back at you or make you feel bad about yourself. Dealing with people is unpredictable. You have to watch and guard yourself to make sure that you do the right thing, this and that… it gets a little wearisome that I find myself once again retreating into books."
"People are not so much different with books, Lord Benjamin." Lucius replied. It was clear that Baron Hugh was an excellent baron, but his own relationship with his family was not as picture perfect as some might believe it was.
"You think they are like books?"
"Well, first and foremost, books are in fact, written by people, Lord Benjamin. The very people you wish to avoid, which is quite something, don't you think?" Lucius said in slight amusement.
Lord Benjamin couldn't help but cough. He became a little embarrassed, but tried to explain himself some more.
"But books are more detailed, they tell you everything…"
"Do they?" Lucius raised a brow. "I find myself hard to believe if you are a reader if you have yet to witness stories where the author does not implement certain twists and turns, perhaps give a false start, a different kind of ending. You must have read those stories too, right?"
"I… I suppose. But people are much more difficult…"
"It is true, not all people are like open books. They're not at all easy to read, harder to distinguish and check. They might say one thing and then do another. But as I've said, isn't that similar to the books that we've both read?" Lucius chuckled. "I think it can be difficult at first to approach people, it is similar to how you might hesitate from reading a book with a topic that's beyond your grasp, but if you do your best to observe and read what is in front of you, search for clues and hints, then you'll find things about them that you wouldn't have even imagined before."
Benjamin stared in shock at Lord Asher. Out of every single phrase, line or advice that he heard from his own father, Baron Hugh, tell him, most of them were like a sieve that passed through easily in his head and out of his ears.
However, compared to what Lord Asher was saying now… and using it all with analogies of books, it was like someone had finally given Benjamin a cup to fill himself properly.
'This is…'
"You are truly brilliant, Lord Asher!" Benjamin said in awe, not able to hide it anymore in his thoughts. "That's my first-time hearing someone saying it like that, and it's like… you allowed me to read a good summary of a book, or the beginning and the ending and then having full comprehension of it. I've always kind of gotten stuck in the middle part, where it's all convoluted, the pacing is slow and everything seems getting dragged, but now it's all cleared up."
Lucius nodded. The man's intention was not exactly to lift the younger man's spirit, but it was perhaps a side effect of trying to recruit him as one of his supporters.
"I am glad that my words have been able to be of help to you, Lord Benjamin."
"Yes. They truly have. I'm excited to work for you, Lord Asher."
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